✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Translated by: Sienna
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
I spoke the answer to the question I had been pondering ever since my return.
“I will give all the firearms to the imperial palace.”
His mouth twitched in confusion at my answer, then he adjusted his monocle and said.
“B-but what about His Majesty the Emperor…”
“Well, undoubtedly, His Majesty won’t view firearms favorably. But that’s because he hasn’t encountered firearms yet.”
The power of firearms I experienced before my return was tremendous.
I effortlessly defeated several skilled warriors without wielding a sword.
So, I planned to put those firearms under my control and supply them to the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor’s concern was that we couldn’t control firearms completely. However, if I preemptively seized firearms in the Imperial Palace, that worry would diminish.
Moreover, to create firearms at the level I demanded, it would take a considerable amount of time and effort from several people.
And if that were the case, mass production for large-scale deliveries elsewhere would become challenging.
‘Well, in that case, leaks would likely be minimal, and at least the chances of the rebellion succeeding would decrease.’
Of course, once mass production becomes possible, this strategy might not work.
However, that wasn’t an immediate concern.
‘At least until I die, mass production won’t be feasible,’
My primary goal was to survive the rebellion and ensure the survival of my child.
Planning for events beyond that was the responsibility of a ruler.
I turned to Parakel and continued.
“You need not worry about persuading the Emperor, for that is my job. You just need to perfectly craft the firearms to present to the Emperor.”
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Parakel stared at the princess with a blank expression.
‘Honestly, when the princess first arrived, I was considering driving her away…’
But a whopping one million gold.
Enough money to travel anywhere and do whatever research he wants for the rest of his life.
Plus, the chance to educate the Emperor on the benefits of firearms, and to deliver so much of it to the imperial palace. It was a chance to revitalize alchemy after it had fallen into obscurity.
‘Honestly, it was a tempting proposal to anyone. However…’
He soon cast a glance at the princess.
She was beautiful even to his eyes, with a beautifully sculpted forehead set against a white face that contrasted with her black hair.
However, she seemed to be hiding a dangerous determination behind her delicate appearance, akin to the venomous stinger that had been aimed at his neck moments ago.
‘Yeah, I can’t trust her easily.’
She was none other than the Emperor’s daughter, who adamantly rejected firearms.
At least until he understood the princess’s motives, selling firearms recklessly was out of the question.
He addressed the princess, saying,
“Honestly, I don’t understand. Why would you want to bring firearms back into the palace when the Emperor strictly controls them?”
The princess nonchalantly replied,
“The common firearms used before, like the matchlock guns, were fired after lighting an ignition port. They were powerful but had significant recoil, were prone to misfires, and were rendered useless when wet.”
Speaking freely about firearms, which she seemed unfamiliar with, the princess soon raised the corners of her mouth.
“The rifles and pistols you’ve crafted are easier to use and more convenient to carry than the matchlock. Plus, they don’t become useless when wet, and even a woman with weak physical strength can use them effortlessly once they learn how.”
Parakel couldn’t help but be impressed.
Her thorough analysis of the advantages of the newly developed firearms was the kind of response he had hoped for from the Emperor.
‘I… Did I want recognition for my achievements?’
For a moment, his expression turned stern.
‘If you thought I would fall for mere lip service, you are mistaken.’
Currently, the Empire is not welcoming the existence of new firearms.
What if they discovered he had secretly sold a pistol to the princess?
There could be a backlash against alchemists, leading to persecution.
‘There’s no proof anyway.’
He had clearly responded to the princess’s request to sell firearms with a firm “no.”
Therefore, there was no evidence, and there would be no repercussions.
Parakel regained his composure and voiced the concerns the Emperor had raised.
“His Majesty expressed concerns about new weapons, considering them a waste of budget and a potential danger.”
If the Emperor was mentioned, even the princess might change her mind.
Therefore, the only acceptable answer for the princess was,
“That’s correct. His Majesty is right. Currently, the military has a stockpile of conventional weapons, and with the conscription in place, there is a risk of exporting new weapons to the imperial citizens.”
To that statement, Parakel chuckled with a sardonic smile and said,
“Then, how do you plan to convince His Majesty to bring 1 million gold worth of firearms into the palace?”
Reveal your true intentions and what your scheme is.
While Parakel stared at the princess, her red lips parted.
“I plan to supply the new weapons not to the military but to the Central Knights Order.”
At the princess’s response, Parakel initially wore an expression as if he had been hit on the head. Then, he questioned,
“The Central Knights Order?”
“Yes, the Central Knights consist of individuals with verified status, and maintaining order within the palace and the imperial capital is their duty, so there’s no concern about weapons leaking externally.”
“But don’t they mainly use swords? They employ crossbows for ranged attacks.”
“So, they have to carry both.”
Parakel fell silent in the face of the princess’s immediate counterargument.
She shrugged and continued speaking.
“Therefore, wouldn’t they welcome a weapon that is both easy to carry and capable of both long-range and short-range attacks? Moreover, its power is enough to pierce through armor, so there’s no need to say more.”
“…….”
Speechless, Parakel racked his brain for some sort of rebuttal.
However, without giving him a chance to speak, the princess continued assertively.
“If we supply the Central Knights first and verify their effectiveness and convenience, can’t we then replace the military’s weapons?”
“Still… Isn’t there a risk of leakage? Besides, civilians might need firearms too.”
As one moved away from the capital, monsters and demons frequently appeared.
So civilians had been using bullets made of silver to deal with monsters using inconvenient, outdated firearms.
‘Now, what are you going to say?’
This time, he hoped she’d be left speechless, but she answered again, this time like a crystal clear stream of water.
“Long guns with long ranges should be restricted to the military, and civilians should be strictly screened before they are issued.”
“But what if, by any chance, it becomes a detriment to the empire…”
He needed to somehow stop the princess. With that thought, Parakel was about to interject.
“The weapons you create are outstanding inventions. If we continue to prohibit them without careful consideration, the empire will eventually fall behind the trends. That’s why I came to you.”
Parakel, taken aback by the unexpected praise from the princess, pursed his lips before locking eyes with her.
“Do you really plan to supply my weapons to the Central Knights? It would take time to learn them from scratch, wouldn’t it?”
“Yes, it may take time to master the usage, but the training period is still shorter than swordsmanship. Isn’t that an advantage?”
There’s a difference between genuine praise and superficial compliments.
Having heard the princess’s sincere compliment, Parakel felt the resentment that had built up inside him dissipate.
‘Even though I called her reckless, she doesn’t seem entirely unreasonable….’
But he stiffened at her next words.
“First, the prototype you presented to my father had too much recoil, and the rate of fire was extremely slow. Additionally, it lacked stability, leading to accidental misfires.”
The princess then addressed her concerns.
“I hope you could improve these aspects.”
After being rejected by the emperor, Parakel had secretly devoted himself to refining the development of firearms, focusing on reducing recoil and increasing the rate of fire.
However, the results were still inconsistent, and he was gradually becoming exhausted.
‘And now you want me to add stability?’
As he was taken aback by the overwhelming demand, a sarcastic voice pierced through.
“Just a moment ago, you were so confident, and now you seem unsure of yourself.”
Angry, Parakel unintentionally glared at the princess. At that moment, he met her violet eyes.
“I vouch for it. You will undoubtedly create an excellent pistol—a weapon that even a delicate woman can use to protect herself when in danger.”
Gradually, her violet eyes softened.
“I believe in your skills.”
Parakel, caught off guard, twitched and displayed a blank expression.
‘Does the princess, the emperor’s daughter, believe in me?’
Just as he was about to deny it, she slammed a check down on the table.
“200,000 gold as an advance. Consider it a contribution to the development costs.”
